Jacksonville nonprofits step up lobbying for city dollars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Nonprofits that face losing city dollars are stepping up their game to sway votes to gain support for their programs.

The City Council will have a public hearing on its spending plans on Tuesday before voting on the budget on Tuesday, September 24. The city's fiscal year kicks in on October 1.

"To lose dollars dollars now comes at a critical time when economy is just trying to come back," said Kevin Gay with Operation New Hope.

That nonprofit is involved in helping people released from prison transition into the workplace. Affordable housing, Gay said, is part of equation when it comes to making that happen.

The Jacksonville chapter of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, also known as LISC, is an umbrella organization that supports a number of nonprofits. LISC, under the proposed city budget, is penciled in to lose $399,000 in city dollars.

Another nonprofit that gets support from LISC is Ability Housing of Northeast Florida. That organization said it stands to lose $94,000, which will result in losing two staff positions viewed as critical in developing more affordable housing options for people.